Q: I recently had cough, colds and fever. Is it okay to still breastfeed my baby? She is 6 months old and is exclusively breastfed.

A: Breast milk contains antibodies that increase the immunity of infants and protect them from getting sick. If a mom stops breastfeeding when she is sick, she increases the chances of her child getting her virus too as she stops giving the antibodies to her baby.

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Apart from this, a mother’s milk supply may get affected if she stops nursing as she may have a harder time expressing milk (where she has to prepare so much materials) versus nursing (just lying down and offering her breasts to her baby). It’s important for a mom to stay healthy and get her much needed rest due to the demands of having a child. So, if mom is sick or was sick, she should definitely continue nursing to provide her baby with the antibodies to protect him from that sickness. If the mom needs medicine, she can ask her doctor for breastfeeding safe medicines. Check the internet or call a lactation specialist if in doubt. However, other baby responsibilities should be turned over to another caregiver to allow the mom to rest more and recuperate.